The Savannah Children’s Choir has been invited to Verona, Italy, to participate in an international choral competition. “We’ve done festivals before, but we have never done an actual adjudicated competition,” said SCC executive director Cuffy Sullivan.

Only three American choirs were accepted. “The Savannah Children’s Choir is the only American children’s choir invited,” said Roger Moss, the SCC artistic director. “They will be up against some of the finest choirs in the world.”

The SCC’s senior choir consists of 29 children in the sixth through eighth grades who have already been working to raise money. To raise more, the Bailee Tenenbaum Kronowitz Cultural Arts Fund is sponsoring “A Night in Italy” on Monday.

“It starts at 5:30 p.m. with an artist talk,” Moss said. “The audience gets to talk to the singers and ask questions. At 6:30 p.m., the concert starts. During the concert, you’ll hear arias from favorite operas -- of course, all of them Italian.”

A reception catered by John Nichols will be held after, complete with an open bar and cheesecake cannoli and bites provided by FORM, a local gourmet restaurant. The fundraiser originated with Keith Miller, Metropolitan Opera bass/baritone who has served as artist-in-residence with the choir.

“This past spring, I learned that the SCC had plans to take the kids to Italy,” Miller said. “I offered to call some of my friends in the opera world and see if they would be interested in coming to Savannah to put on a benefit to help raise funds for this great organization.”

“He started calling his buddies in the opera world and got four amazing singers,” Moss said. “Sandra Piques Eddy is a rising star at the Met who is already doing principal parts.

“Sara Stewart also performs at the Met. Jason Baldwin is with the Utah Opera Company, and Gregory Gerbrandt is another one of those stars on the rise — a booming baritone.”

The singers will be accompanied by Laurent Philippe, a voice coach from the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. “I’ve planned an exciting program of solos, duets and ensemble pieces, and the artists will even be joined by the SCC’s Senior Choir for the finale,” Miller said. “These artists will sing their hearts out for the kids.”

While the choir has traveled to Chicago and England, this is the first time the children have had a chance to compete on the international level. “Word gets around about choirs and these festivals send out invitations,” Moss said.

“The kids are putting the work in,” he said. “They sold ads for our program book. They are so industrious, they talked to everybody.”

In conjunction with “A Night in Italy,” an open rehearsal will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 34th and Abercorn streets that is open to the public.

The Young Professionals of Savannah will host its 6th Anniversary Party from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Saya Lounge, 109 Broughton St., to benefit the choir. Advance tickets are $15 for YPS members, $20 for guests and $35 per couple through Nov. 15 and are available at www.ypsav.net. If purchased at the door, tickets will be $5 more.

While in Italy, the choir will sing at four concerts. “In addition to the judged concerts, there are wonderful opportunities for friendship concerts,” Sullivan said.

“The children will sing at an Italian Middle School, and they will pair us with some other choirs,” she said. “The groups will put on concerts throughout the town.”

The highlight will be a mass sing. “Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of singers will come together in a Roman Arena and sing,” Sullivan said. The kids not only have an amazing opportunity to sing in an arena, they will hear choirs from all over Europe.”

Getting to travel is a great learning experience, Sullivan said. “I think it opens doors that would never have been opened otherwise to a child that age,” she said.

Seeing Italy will mean memories that will last a lifetime. “This is our first big trip,” Sullivan said. “I don’t think any of them have a concept of what that means, but they are certainly getting the message from their parents that this is pretty freaking cool.”

IF YOU GO

What: “A Night in Italy,” a fundraiser for the Savannah Children’s Choir.